Although they hold games in hand on many teams ahead of them and behind them in the Eastern Conference standings, the Bruins are now eighth in the conference standings.

Buffalo and Carolina are both six points back of Boston for that coveted last playoff spot. Most wouldn’t be surprised if today’s top eight East teams were still in their current positions, or thereabouts, when the season ends in April.

On the day the Bruins have a huge Northeast Division tilt with first-place Montreal, I ask you:

Which Eastern playoff team is most likely to drop from the top 8 by year's end?

I’m going with the Bolts here.
1. Their goaltending is suspect; although there are rumors that they are interested in Nabokov.
2. Their D-corp is suspect
3. The 1-3-1 will be solved by most teams by the end of the season. Especially, if their forwards continue to be flat footed in the neutral zone.